Fuel injection apparatus



June 16, 1953 L. o. FRENCH 2,642,315

' FUEL INJECTION APPARATUS .lfiled Nov. 21, 1951 IN V EN TOR. QM 0. 7 M

Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED "S TATES PAT ENT O FFI CE FUEL INJECTION APPARATUS Louis 0. French, MilWauk'ee,Wis. iApiilicationNovember 21, 1951, SerialTNojZEZIBZS 1'0 Cl'aifiiS; (Cl. -299107i2) The invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to fuel'inje'ction apparatus .of the "compression pressure operated 'itype.

"The simplest compressionpressureoperated'in=- ljectors are those in 'whiich'ithehozzle, mounted iat the'lowe'nend ofithefoperatin'g piston, projects into the engine cylnfden'and 'moves with said piston'fbut insom'e enginesthe shapeof th'e'comb'u'sti'o'n chamber is such"'th'a't ashi'fting'of the position o'fthespraynoz'zle is objectionable. 'One of the objects of this inventionii's to providea compression pressure operated unitinjector-hav- 'inga'fixe'd nozz'le cooperating *with "the operating 'pi's'ton whichworksinaphambenwhoseinner end .i's"connected byfa"passage-"or passages with the "combustion chamberi-ofthe engine; The present invention-permits a unitcompression-pressure operated'iuel injector to function as-a unit with a fuel nozzle having a fi-xed spraying-position.

A further object *of Z the -inventionis'to provide a new and improved 'ful injection engine in which "the-injection apparatus provides for=both-'adirect injectionof 'fu'el anda-ls'ofor injection of f-uel by utilizingthe chamber in 'vvliich theoperating piston -Woi'rks,- as apreconibution- -or-energy cell chambe'rinto which some of the fuelfrom the ini ector is diverted and -Which 4 during the cycle *may rea'ct to provide a blast-eifect-on -other parts of the 'fu'el charge. llh'e present invention enablesthe advantages of the precombustion or-energy cell types of engines to be obtained" without their disadvantages since the-injector has direct injection e'asiersstarting) and gasblast characteristics and the J chamber in which the igasblast is 'generated issubstantially completely scavenged during :each cycie. Furthermore, the injection process may beevenl'morerapid than that obtainableawith the usual compression operated injector since:thelprecombustion of apartaof the chargein the chamber in whichtheoperating pistonof the injectors-works will :produce a higher pressure in this chamber than the pressure then existing in the main combustionchamber-andthus accelerate fit the --movement :of the operating piston. At the same time the action of the blastagases on the fuelsupplied by 'the injector are of advantage-in reducing the ignition lag of the fuel-and :inpermitting cheaper fuels to be used than are ordinarily employed in direct injection engines.

, Arfurther object of the invention is-to provide a compression pressure operated fuel injector in which a projection on the operating piston cooperates with a fixed'opening to form :a pintle type nozzle.

an improved compression jp'ressure operatedin- Afurther object ofth'einvention is toprovi'ole an improvediuel'nozzle'for compression pressure operated injectors.

The invention furthercon'sists in the several features "hereinafter fset forth and more particularly definedbyclaim-s atith-e conclusion hereof :In the drawings: t t Fig. 1 is a verticabsectional Vle'W of 'fuel injection apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarge'd d'etailed sectional View of th'e atemizing end o'f' the injector shown-inFig. 1 in a different position; I

Fig.- 3- is a -vieW--'ofa modified' form -'-of atomizer; Fig. 4 is anenlarged-detailed sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing certain modifications;

6 has a constant :stroke has --been-:sho'wn, but it :will be understood that the :nozzle improvements hereinafter descri'bed are applicableto variable stroke injectors of this kind-as, for i example, 'the injector showniin my U. is; Patent'No. 21516592,

dated; July 25, .1950. Also .while thefu'el injection apparatus herein: describedzhas been d'esigned:with special referenceto compression ignition engines using. oil as :fuel, it :maybe used in connection with spark ignition volatile :fuelengines such as 'theihigh compression (12 to :1) type where suitable \provisions known to the art are provided for lubri'catingthe purmzrplunger and otheriparts, if necessary. 1

Y Theoperating:pistonziWqrks in acha'mberihere shown as formed bya cylinderJl-andabottom and nozzle member .8, the piston having a discharge extension 9 which cooperates with the nozzle member'8.

The member v8 seatsat its inner endagainst a gasket 'liljlinin'g the bottom end of -'a bore II in the enginewcylinder heajcl I 2 and has-afcup-shaped top Ba'into .WhiGhtheloWerehd of the cylinder "l'closely fitswitha packing ring I 3 between these arts.

The upper end of the cylinder 7 has an outwardly extending flange 1'4 which engages a packing ring 1'5 mounted in a recess in the head at the top of 'thebore ll which provides awater jacket space [6 either forming a part of or I connected by openings T7 with the main jacket space of "theihead. Bolts (not shown) orother suitable fastening means-engaging the flange 14 Afurther o t of t invention is t provide act to clamp thebottom of the cylinder 7 against 3 the bottom of the cup of member 8 and to clamp member 8 against the head.

The operating piston 6 has a main portion !8, a fuel pump barrel l9, and a checking piston portion 26. The main portion [8 may carry sealing rings 18a and has a central bore of varying diameters 2!, 22, and 23 providing shoulders 24 and 25. The upper end of the bore 2| is threaded to engage the threaded portion of the barrel H which acts to clamp an apertured valve seat member 26 against the shoulder 24. The lower end of the bore 23 is threaded to engage the threaded upper portion of the extension 9 whose plain cylindrical upper end abuts an apertured valve seat member 2'! and clamps said seat member against the shoulder 25, the flange of said extension providing a wrench engaging surface. A check valve 28, slidably mounted in the bore 22, is normally held by a spring 29 against the seat 26. A check valve 30, slidably mounted in a central disposed bore 3! of the extension, is normally held by a spring 32 against the seat 2?. The part 18 has a wrench engageable boss 34 provided with a lengthwise extending key slot 35 cooperating with a key pin 36 anchored in the cylinder l. The parts l8 and 20 are preferably of light Weight metal, such as a suitable aluminum or titanium alloy, the part I8 preferably being cored out so that the interior of the piston is eiiiciently cooled by a coolant which is circulated through a portion of the bore 31 of the cylinder 1 between the parts l8 and 28, this coolant being introduced through an inlet supply connection 38 and exhausted through an outlet 39. For compression ignition engines the coolant is the fuel.

The barrel [9 has an inlet port 45 connected with an annular groove 4| connected by a port 42 with the coolant space and a relief port 43 connected with an annular groove 44 connected by a port 45 with said coolant space. Where fuel is not used as a coolant, then the supply and exhaust of fuel from the barrel through the ports 45 and 43 is through passages connected with the checking chamber 45. The barrel [9 has a wrench engageable flange 41 whose top is a finished flat surface against which the annular bottom of the piston 25 abuts in fluid sealing engagement. Piston 2G is free of the upper extension of the barrel [9 so that it has a self-centering contact with the bore 38.

A fuel pump plunger 46 works in the barrel l9 and is rotatably mounted in fluid sealed relation with a cap 49 clamped by a nut 53 to the upper end of the cylinder 1. A spring interposed between the flange von the plunger and the bottom of the piston part 20 acts to hold the plunger against the cap, the part 20 against the flange of the barrel and to move the piston 6 to its lower position.

For timing the beginning of movement of the operating piston and also to cushion the end of its operating movement, I follow my U. S. Patent No. 2,516,690, dated July 25, 1950, and provide the chamber 46 with a check valve controlled inlet 52 and a variable pressure relief valve controlled outlet 53 for timing and let the piston 26 lap the outlet port for checking the final movement of the piston 6. Also to further seal the piston I8, the bore of the cylinder 1 is provided with an annular groove 54 in which a split metal ring 55 and a packing ring 56 of neoprene or silicone rubber composition is mounted, the ring 56 being engaged by the top edge of the piston part [8 at the end of its outward or upward stroke.

The fuel pump shown is of the constant stroke variable by-pass controlled type in which the angular adjustment of the plunger by a lever 51 varies the position of its by-pass scroll or recess 58 relative to the relief port 43 and thereby varies the amount of fuel delivered past the discharge valves 28 and 30. By way of example I have shown the inlet port 40 in the barrel controlled by the plunger and the recess 58 of angular form provided with a control edge 59 cooperating with the port 43, this recess being connected by suitable indicated passages 60 and 6| in the plunger with the fuel pump chamber. As in all devices of this kind, the compression pressure of the engine acting on the exposed end of the piston 6 near the end of the compression stroke moves it outwardly relative to the combustion chamber C and against the force of the spring 5!, and in the present instance the loading of the relief valve to force the fuel past the discharge valves. On a reduction in cylinder pressure the spring 5| returns the operating piston to its initial position, and this movement substantially completely scavenges the chamber containing said piston. It will be noted that if any gas leakage past the main portion of the piston 6 occurs during the outward movement of the piston, these gases will be carried away by the coolant circulating in the space of the bore 37 back of this piston by way of the ports 38 and 39.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the nozzle member 8 has alined centrally disposed bores 62, 63, and. 64 with a slight annular enlargement 65 between the bores 63 and 64. The flanged end of the extension seats in the recess formed by the bore 62 when the piston 6 is down and the lower cylindrical end of the extension 9 is slidably mounted at all times in the bores 63 and 64. The bore 31 is connected by a conduit 66 to connecting passages 61 which register with the enlargement 65. Passages 68 in the member 8 connect the lower end of the operating piston chamber with the combustion chamber C. The lower part of the extension cooperates with the lower or orifice bore 64 to form a pintle type nozzle by which fuel discharged past the check valves and through the passages above named is sprayed into the combustion chamber of the engine during the upward movement of the piston 6 as it moves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The pintle may have various arrangements of conical surfaces cooperating with the orifice bore 64 such as the inwardly converging conical surface 69 and the outwardly diverging conical surface "Hi to provide a constriction H. Instead of a single surface 69, this surface may be broken up into two conical surfaces 69a and 69b of differing angles, as shown in Fig. 4. The conical surfaces on the pintle vary the nozzle orifice area formed between it and the bore 64 as the piston 6 moves to its full stroke position so as to vary the rate of discharge of the fuel through this orifice and also serve to deflect the spray, the pintle preferably projecting beyond the orifice 64 at the end of the stroke of piston 6.

Where greater penetration and directional control of the spray is desired, the extension 9 as shown in Fig. 3 is formed as a plain cylindrical pin that is slidably mounted in the concentric bores 12, 13 connected by a slightly enlarged bore 14 and an annular recess I5. Spray amnesia 5, orifices?! 6: connect the recess: E- swithsthelcome bustioir. chamberZCL. The. gas passages: :andsf-uel passagesoarezl similarzito. tl'ie. firstifornr similarlm 2' numeralledi; t Withi arrangement: a small-amount: of thejnelzzis dischargedg through the: orifice: formed; :betweemztliez pinz'and thesbore Mil-while;- the; .greater portion; of the'zchargeis discharged: throughethe orificese1:6 into:

bustiorr. .chamherzaotzthe-z:engine: eon: the-lsupward movementzofcthel pistonrfi; The;aboverconstruo= tions "provideisadireet iniectionzof fuehwintosihe combnstiongchambelr from 1-a rfixedlyq positioned orifice duringcthe injectionrstroke:.ofitheioneratr mgrpistonza. For obtaining .agcombination ofi:,di;- rect fuel-:iniection .and. ::b1a'st galsiiinjectionzthe nozzles-shown; in Figs: 4- anctfi arewshown;

- In Fig; ,4 thecpintle portio'mzof:vthezextension shownrirtaFig.:--:2 ,has beerr;modified=;byeprouiding an annular groove 11 extending iipwardly from theiipassagesr: 6 1! so that: at:-some:point,,.:.either at the-:same timea 1onafteni the :initial: it direct injeow tionaof': the charge through the orificerlfilg (some of 1- the; ZEHGIJWiH be inj ectedinto the chamber: i=8 andirtmi xi Withcthe' hotv compressed l a-ir therein. This injectionof; fuel: into. the chamberzlfl may start at about half.:stroke= 'traveleofrwthe piston Stand zcontinue during the. remainder-- of :the strokeuor thelength-ofthis groove I'Lma-y-be suchzzasistor start" indection-rof fUGITtO: the cham ber: eithen before: or: after: the-shalt stroke travel of. the piston :8, or. at aboutthe same time as die? rect :fuela :in iection through the orifice: ti -be: gins: Thegroovel'i; passages- 61 andenlarge merit" 65: are: sor-related; that when the upper, end of; the r groovesta-rts movingrinto-xthe -chambeE 1'8: 1 communication; is established :betweene this chamber. and the: enlargement;- 6 If so vthat 1 as: fuel introduced-i into chamberiii-mixes :With thee come pressed air thereirrandbecomes:vaporized orig; nited; the gases; expanding in the chamber: l8 may blow down through -g-I'0ove --'l1 and- :en1 largement fii andw exert a gas blast effect upon the fuel in the enlargement 65 to disperse the -throughtheorifice 64. The passages -19 provide restricted communicationrbetween the combustion chamber and'thechamb'r l8 and.

may be open passages or" as shown in Fig. 4 be one-way gas:- inlet passages having a non-return annularplate check valve tll mountedover one end thereof and provided with': serrationss or grooves 81 at -its edges. Theaoutwarda-mdvemerit-of the valveauis limitedi by a flange 82 on a tube 83 which-has a -drive-fit in the main body portion of the jacket bottom member 8 which,;'in some instances, where a tubesuch; as the" tube 83" is' used, "may be'formed as an' integral part of the head instead of the separate piece shown in Fig. 1. The valve 88, being a separate member, retains its heat more readily than the jacketed bottom of the chamber 18 and forms a hot surface element for said chamber.

In Fig. 5, the extension shown in Fig. 3 has been modified by providing one or more lengthwise grooves 84 that extend upwardly from the passages 61 to perform the same function as the groove 1'! to spray fuel into the chamber 18 and allow the expanding mixture of fuel and. air to pass from the chamber 18 down into the enlargement l4 and exert a gas blast effect on any fuel in said enlargement and recess to.

disperse the fuel through the orifices 16 into the combustion chamber of the engine. The passages 19, valve 80, and a tube 85 similar to the tube 83 may be used where a one way movem'ent ofzltheilgasesradirecta.toctlrea chambers :18 is desireda:

In';:bothsFigs. -14-v and:5f,; the-operating: piston: G. is shownsatl the end: of: its; oufiwardzstrokei wlfictr would beith'e endiofiafullstrohezirrjectiom ofsthe plunger 48, and while'ithestrokeaof thel-pistonrfi is constant; the effective .strokeisoihthei plunger 48".- varieswitlr iits angulari adjiustmentarelative to the: relief :portflr :so .thatltheisupply' of 1 fuelazto thennozzlenmay terminatelin-isome instanceseirr the constru'ctionsshown in Figsee ands 5: before the; grooves-L1: or: grooves-8t. register with i the ehamber'i'la'; butsevensif"thisdoesroccur; amt fuel remaining in the enlargement iad'jacent' the; nozzle may be: carried-up .intohthei chamber: T8! and mixtwith the air therein t'oiformwanexpanding mixture." whiclrfwilliblow ba-clr.throughthe. nozt-4 zle: into the: combustionfchamzben ofnvthe: engine;

By the-term fixed SSprEy-1-Q]Zifidl;?? I. a spray orifice; having :a fixed. vposition relative to the-combustion chamber: of'sth'e-z engine; such asi the: orifices Mort .1 6 t I. desire: 1 it to: be understood; that-this; invem tiorris n'ottoi beilim-ited to:- any 'parti'culartforma orxarrangementof parts except" in so far -vastsu'ch limitationsere includedv in" the claims;

' What-LI cltairmasmy inventiomisz 1. Inna compressiontpressure operated fuel injection apparatus: for; internalu combustion:v en.- gines, the combination of a reciprocatoryoperating piston movable: outwardly of thecombustion chamber of the engine: by compression pressure, a fuel pump having relatively: movable parts-in: cluding a part" movable with said-piston and a fuel pressureoperated discharge-valve; a-"fuel discharge extension beyond said discharge valve for the discharge end 'of said'pump mounted on said operating piston, a housing for said operat ingpiston including a part communicating-with the-combustion chamber of the engine and havinga bore connected witha fixedly positioned spray orifice communicating with the combustion chamber of the engine, said extension being movable in 'saidbore at all times to supplyfuel under pressure to-saidorifice during the outward movementof said operating piston:-

2. -In a compression pressure operated fuel .in-' jection apparatus for internal" combustion "en gines; the combination with a fixedly positioned spray1orifice communicating' with the combustion chamberofthe engine and a bore communi cating therewith,- of a compression pressure operated fuerpump' including a reciprocatory'oper ating pistonmovable outwardly of the combustion chamber of the engine by compression pres sureand having a fuel discharge conduitextena sion for receiving fuel at pump injection pressure, said extension working in said bore at all times and having an outlet in constant communication with said spray orifice to conduct fuel at injection pressure thereto during the outward movement of said operating piston, said extension having a closed outer end exposed to the gases in said combustion chamber.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, in which the outerend of the discharge extension has a pintle portion cooperatin with said orifice to form a pintle injection nozzle.

4. In a compression pressure operated fuel injection apparatus for internal combustion engines, the combination with fixedly positioned spray orifices and a bore communicating therewith, of a compression pressure operated fuel pump including a reciprocatory operating piston movable outwardly of the combustion chamber of the engine by compression pressure, a fuel pressure operated discharge valve mounted in said piston and a fuel discharge conduit extension beyond said discharge valve working in said bore at all times for supplying fuel to said spray orifices at fuel injection pressures.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a chamber communicating with the combustion chamber of the engine and provided with a fixedly positioned fuel spray orifice and a gas passage, a compression pressure operated fuel pump having a reciprocatory piston working in said first named chamber and provided with a fuel discharge conduit extension having an outlet in constant communication with said orifice for supplying fuel at fuel injection pressure thereto for direct injection of fuel into said combustion chamber, and a passage controlled by said extension and connecting with said outlet for supplying fuel to said first named chamber at a predetermined period in the movement of said piston to mix with air entering this chamber from the combustion chamber through said gas passage so that said first named chamber acts as a precombustion chamber for a part of the fuel charge supplied by said pump.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5, in which the gas passage is controlled by a check valve adapted to close under pressure generated in said chamber.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the com bination of a compression pressure operated fuel pump and a fixedly positioned spray orifice supplied with fuel by said pump for direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine and including a reciprocatory operating piston and a precombustion chamber communicating with the combustion chamber of the engine and in which said operating piston works, means for generating a blast gas in said precombustion chamber during the fuel discharge stroke of said operating piston, and a passage between said precombustion chamber and said spray orifice to permit said blast gas to react on fuel supplied to said fixedly positioned fuel spray orifice.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a precombustion chamber in restricted communication with the combustion chamber of the engine and provided with a fixedly positioned spray orifice, of a compression pressure operated fuel pump for supplying fuel to said orifice for direct injection of fuel into said combustion chamber and for supplying part of its fuel charge to said precombustion chamber to provide a blast gas, and a passage between said precombustion chamber and said orifice to permit said blast gas to react on fuel supplied to said fixedly positioned fuel spray orifice.

9. In a fuel injection apparatus, the combination of an operating piston movable in response to fluid pressure, a fuel pump having relatively movable parts including a part movable with said piston, a cylinder in which said operating piston works, means for checking the outward movement of said piston comprising a chamber containing a checking fluid and provided with a relief port, a checking piston mounted on said operating piston and working in said chamber and adapted to lap said relief port in the outstroke position of said operating piston to trap a body of checking liquid in said chamber, and a yieldable sealing ring mounted in said cylinder and engaged by said operating piston in its outstroke position to prevent gases leaking by said piston.

10. In a fuel injection apparatus, the combination of an operating piston movable in response to fluid pressure and having a cooling space, a fuel pump having a pump barrel carried by said operating piston, a checking piston mounted on said operating piston, a housing in which said pistons work providing a checking chamber above said checking piston and a coolant chamber between said pistons in communication with the cooling space in said operating piston, means for circulating a coolant through said coolant space, means for supplying said checking chamber with archecking fluid, said checking chamber having a relief port adapted to be lapped by said checking piston to stop the outward movement of said operating piston, means for supplying said pump barrel with fuel, an angularly adjustable fuel metering pump plunger working in said pump barrel, a slidable key connection between said piston and housing disposed in said coolant chamber, and a return spring interposed between said checking piston and said plunger.

LOUIS O. FRENCH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,990,714 Skooltvet Feb. 12, 1935 2,142,973 Draper Jan. 3, 1939 2,516,690 French July 25, 1950 2,516,691 French July 25, 1950 2,516,692 French July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 298,399 Great Britain Oct. 11, 1928 

